Coast to Coast - Cornish Homes & Gardens

Check in to the luxurious Penventon Park Hotel in the afternoon. Later, we enjoy a welcome drink reception hosted by our tour manager.

Nestled near the sea on the south coast of Cornwall, the Caerhays Estate is an idyllic gem only open to the public during the springtime. We are treated to a guided tour of the castle with the owner to discover the extensive personal collection of treasures amassed by the Williams family, the proprietors of the property since 1860, from Victorian crockery and the bric-a-brac of an Edwardian billiards room to the wonderful Garden Diary with contributions from generations of the family. After our tour, there’s time to discover the award-winning gardens, a riot of colour with fragrant magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias and hydrangeas. We also enjoy lunch in the tea room here.

Translated as ‘house of the trees’, it’s no surprise that Trewithen boasts exquisite grounds, which we discover on a guided tour. The 17th-century mansion is surrounded by acres upon acres of peaceful parkland, spectacular specimens and beautifully landscaped gardens, which we discover this afternoon. Developed during the time of plant hunting expeditions in the early 20th century, a wide variety of seeds were sent back to Trewithen to establish an enviable botanical reputation that remains today.

This morning we head to St Michael’s Mount, one of the most iconic of Cornwall’s sights. The little sister of Brittany’s Mont St Michel, this craggy island features a medieval castle, which has been home to the St Aubyn family since the 17th century, a harbour and village with a close-knit island community. Depending on tide times, we either enjoy a boat ride over to the island or a 15-minute walk along the ancient, cobbled walkway.

Our next stop is Roswarne House, once an ancient farmhouse and extended in 1810 by landed gentry. Nestled in six acres of picturesque parkland, the property has now returned to its former glory, after an extensive restoration project, and highlights include a delightful Orangery, Ballroom, Library and Drawing Room. We find out more about its history on our guided tour with the current owner, followed by a Cornish cream tea (jam first, of course)!

After dinner this evening, we enjoy an interesting themed talk about the history of this Celtic nation and its language, from Charlie Fripp and Cornwall Grand Bard Pol Hodge.

A warm Cornish welcome awaits at Pencarrow House, nestled on the edge of Bodmin Moor and the family home of the Molesworth-St Aubyns for almost 500 years. Our guided tour uncovers the secrets of this magnificent house, along with hidden passageways, glorious portraits, fine porcelain and marble busts sporting a variety of hats upon the wishes of the Lady of the Manor! There is plenty to explore outside too, from a colourful Italian garden and wild woodlands to walking routes, an Iron Age hill fort and a grotto, believed to have once been a secret meeting place.

We continue with a guided tour of Prideaux Place on the north coast, located close to Padstow and the home to fourteen generations of the Prideaux-Brunes. Completed in 1592, this Elizabethan manor house has changed little over the last four centuries and the magnificent rooms offer a captivating slice of history and plenty of unique treasures, including Italian paintings, elegant antiques, an ever-growing collection of teddy bears and you can also find England’s oldest cast iron canon in the armoury. The author of Poldark, Winston Graham, became a great friend of the family and regularly visited the house, and part of the estate was used for dramatic clifftop scenes in the 2015 BBC adaptation of the popular novel. Outside, the grounds are gradually being restored to their former glory with an 80-tree lime avenue and a remodelling of the Victorian formal garden.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel for the journey home.

Please note: the itinerary order is subject to change and guided tours are subject to availability.